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PODCAST

What the Riff Next Gen

Rob Marbury, Wayne Rowan, Bruce Fricks, John Lynch

Every episode of “WHAT THE RIFF NEXT GEN” brings a ROCK AND ROLL album that debuted on the U.S. Billboard charts during a random month between 1995 and 2005. Four Classic Rock fans discuss the artist and 4 tracks from the album as it plays in the background. Then we riff on 3 additional “staff picks” of other artists that were also on the charts during that month and year. You’ll hear Classic Rock bands that were still producing new work, as well as some newer Alternative and Grunge bands that were

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All Episodes

00:29:54

1965 - December - The Byrds - Turn Turn Turn

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2019/05/13

Brian presents the second album by The Byrds as they continued their folk rock mix of vocal and twelve-string guitar harmonies originally explored in their debut album released earlier in the year. There are two songs from Bob Dylan - "The Times They Are A-Changin' and "Lay Down Your Weary Tune" - along with a number of other covers. Join us as we explore the album Turn! Turn! Turn! as well as the famous title track and several other excellent songs from The Byrds. “Oh

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00:42:03

1993 - March - Duran Duran - Duran Duran (the wedding...

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2019/05/06

After stratospheric commercial success in the 1980's, Duran Duran had been on a downswing before releasing this seventh studio - and second self-titled - album. They would hit the top 5 once again with what became known as “The Wedding Album” due to the album artwork showing wedding pictures from the band members' parents. This album was a comeback and reinvention of the group for the 90's. It has a wide variety of sounds and tempos, but maintains the distinctive harmonies for which Duran Duran

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00:39:56

1976 - August - Boston - Boston

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2019/04/29

With their self-titled debut album, Boston burst onto the stage with a sound that would come to define classic rock - "the Boston sound." Although an instant hit (it was the second best selling debut album in US history), it took several years for the demo tape to be accepted by a record label, and then would require some evasion of the label's wishes for MIT graduate Tom Scholz to be able to create the full album in his basement studio instead of taking it to Los Angeles. Driven by Brad

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00:37:02

1980 - August - The B-52's - Wild Planet

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2019/04/22

Folks, it's time to party! With their second studio album, Wild Planet, Athens-based band, The B-52's continued their new wave, high energy weirdness. Front man Fred Schneider's frequently spoken vocals and Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson's harmonies give The B-52's a very distinctive sound — the beehive hairdo sported by Kate and Cindy gave the band its name. There's not a bad song on the entire album. We hope you enjoy this week's very upbeat installment of What the Riff! Party Out of

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00:28:40

1967 - August - Big Brother & the Holding Company -...

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2019/04/15

Almost everyone is familiar with Janis Joplin as a fixture sound of the late 60's, but some may not know that she got her San Francisco start with Big Brother and the Holding Company on their self-titled debut album in 1967. Joplin was ostracized in high school, and you can get a sense of her as a lonely soul through her singing. She joined Big Brother and the Holding Company in 1966, which was an established band at the time. Joplin would move on to become a superstar soon, but this gives you a

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00:37:54

1973 - September - Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick...

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2019/04/08

ALBUM SPOTLIGHT: Elton John — Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” September, 1973 Elton John's seventh studio release is considered his best by many. The double album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road contains many well known hits including the title track, the Marilyn Monroe-inspired “Candle in the Wind,” and the 11-minute epic “Funeral For a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding.” Elton John initially intended to record this album in Jamaica, but political instability and the upcoming Frazier/Foreman boxing match caused the

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00:38:05

1991 - December - Matthew Sweet - Girlfriend

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2019/04/01

With his third studio album, Girlfriend, alternative rock artist Matthew Sweet saw his career launched to the next level. Although originally from Nebraska, Sweet connected with REM so much that he met up with them and left home to became a part of the music scene in Athens, Georgia. The album cover is of a 50’s actress named Tuesday Weld. The album was written after Sweet went through a divorce, and that may drive some of the creativity exhibited - a kind of therapy for the artist. Join us as

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00:43:10

1984- February - The Pretenders - Learning to Crawl

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2019/03/25

February 1984— The Pretenders— “Learning to Crawl” Coming after a hiatus and the tragedy of losing two band members to drug overdoses, The Pretenders third studio album was perhaps a surprisingly successful endeavor. The name “Learning to Crawl” pays homage to Chrissy Hynde's daughter, Natalie Rae Hynde, who was indeed learning to crawl at the time. There's a sense of loss that comes from this album in tracks like “My City Was Gone” or “Time the Avenger,” but there's also an acknowledgment of more

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00:42:02

1977- Sept - Meat Loaf - Bat Out of Hell

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2019/03/18

September 1977 — Meat Loaf — “Bat Out of Hell” Is it Opera? Is it Rock? Is it toxic masculinity - or maybe adolescent half-formed not-too-deep masculinity? From the beginning, Bat Out Of Hell has been hard to define, and it took a long time for Meat Loaf, composer Jim Steinman, and producer Todd Rundgren to get the concept album picked up. However, the staying power of this evergreen album is undeniable, with over 43 million sold to date, and 200,000 albums sold per year even today. If you

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00:42:16

1984 - May - Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble -...

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2019/03/11

May 1984 — Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble — “Couldn’t Stand the Weather” Many consider Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble to have single-handedly revived the blues in the 1980's. This second album contains both covers and original songs from Vaughan, instumentals, jazz, and of course blues. Couldn't Stand the Weather has a timeless quality to it even 35 years later. And did we mention the strength of Stevie Ray Vaughan's guitar chops? There's not a bad track on this ablum from one of

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00:50:48

1992 - July - Dream Theater- Images and Words

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2019/03/04

July 1992 — Dream Theater — “Images and Words” Is it Metallica? or Triumph? or Rush? Although “Images and Words” was their second studio album, the addition of James LaBrie as front man makes this album feel like the first complete outing for Dream Theater. While they only have one “hit” in the repertoire, this group is a giant in the progressive rock genre. The musicality of each member of the group gives Dream Theater an ability to take a variety of styles from driving thrash metal to soft

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00:41:35

1969 - August - Humble Pie - As Safe as Yesterday is.

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2019/02/25

August 1969 — Humble Pie — “As Safe as Yesterday is” Wayne presents this incredible album featuring both Steve Marriott and Peter Frampton on vocals and guitar. It is easy to see how Humble Pie was such a powerful - but underrated - rock band at the end of the 60's. Their debut album “As Safe as Yesterday is” was a UK release, and remains surprisingly hard to pin down in genres with its mix of pop, rock, and blues - it was even one of the first albums to be described as “heavy metal.” Let's take a

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00:41:00

1973 - October - The Who - Quadrophenia

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2019/02/18

October 1973 — “Quadrophenia By the time this sixth studio album (and second rock opera) rolled out in 1973 The Who were already icons in the Rock genre. The double album Quadrophenia tracks the downward spiral of a young “mod” named Jimmy in 1965 Brighton, UK. Some of the most well known Who songs originate from this rock opera including "The Real Me," and "Love, Reign O'er Me." We're joined this week by “What the Riff Friend” Tim Andrews from WSB radio and the Radio Labyrinth

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00:44:59

1993 - June - Collective Soul - Hints, Allegations &...

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2019/02/11

June 1993 — “Hints, Allegations & Things Left Unsaid” by Collective Soul Our first Podcast with a special guest. Steve Hardin teams up with Rob to present Stockbridge, Georgia-originating band Collective Soul. They didn't set out to be a world famous band. In fact, frontman Ed Roland wrote what would be the band's debut album as a demo in his basement, hoping to sell songs to others as a songwriter rather than perform songs in his own band. “Hints, Allegations and Things Left Unsaid” would

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00:39:48

1973 - February - Alice Cooper - Billion Dollar Babies

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2019/02/04

February 1973 — “Billion Dollar Babies” by Alice Cooper Brian presents one of the biggest early 1970's glam rock groups — Alice Cooper. Their sixth studio album entitled “Billion Dollar Babies” was released in 1973, and was their most successful album to this date. Detroit native and front man Vincent Furnier took on the “Alice Cooper” persona for this highly theatrical act, complete with makeup, tuxedo, and top hat. The title of the album is a tongue in cheek look at the rise of the band itself

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00:37:41

1978 - January - Atlanta Rhythm Section - Champagne Jam

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2019/01/28

January 1978 — “Champagne Jam” by Atlanta Rhythm Section Bruce has a special place in his heart for this classic. The Atlanta Rhythm Section - also known as ARS - started as a session band for Studio One in Doraville, GA. Champagne Jam is their eighth and most successful album, going platinum by September of 1978. This was a time when Southern Rock was hitting a peak with Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchett, The Charlie Daniels Band and others. ARS crafted a more laid back style within the genre on

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00:25:09

1965 - January - The Beatles - Beatles for Sale

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2019/01/21

January 1965 — “Beatles for Sale” by The Beatles By the start of 1965 The Beatles were already a household name, with Beatlemania reaching its peak the year before. Their fourth album released in the UK, Beatles for Sale, would continue their prolific work with a turn to more introspective lyrics and a handful of cover songs. The Beatles entire catalog is incredible, and this album contains some of the best examples from their height. Join us on this brief time machine ride back to the beginning

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00:43:10

1991 - September - Pearl Jam - Ten

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2019/01/14

September 1991 — “Ten” by Pearl Jam Bursting out of what was becoming the Seattle scene Pearl Jam achieved mainstream success with its debut album, anachronistically named Ten. The popularity of the album was slow coming, but has shown a staying power over the decades. Often identified with the grunge movement, and considered highly influential, Pearl Jam nevertheless defies labels. Their strong melodies and melancholy, open lyrics evoke not only grunge, but metal, alternative rock, and

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00:39:25

1985 - February - The Firm - The Firm

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2019/01/07

February 1985 — “The Firm” by The Firm If you're forming a rock group for success in the 1980s, you can't go wrong with Paul Rodgers (Bad Company) on lead and Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) on guitar. Throw in Tony Franklin on bass and Chris Slade on drums, and you have the supergroup known as The Firm. Their self-titled debut album was propelled to the top of the charts on the strength of their hit “Radioactive” and “Satisfaction Guaranteed.” Chris Slade suggested the name of the group, initially as

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00:46:43

1986 - May - Peter Gabriel - So

What the Riff Next Gen ·

2018/12/31

“So” by Peter Gabriel Bruce is excited about this blockbuster hit album. After four solo albums without a name, the record company finally persuaded Peter Gabriel to name this fifth album. So is a synthesizer-heavy album influenced by world music. It shows Gabriel's experimental side, but it was a more approachable album than his other releases, and it was a huge hit in the mid-'80s both on radio and MTV. Gabriel went from a cult star to a mainstream star in the rock genre very quickly with this

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